2-week trip of Uruguay
15 days from €5,720 per person
driving – history – cuisine – nature
- Cruise along the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires to historic Colonia
- Discover the Uruguayan countryside on horseback, on foot, by bike or in a rental car
- Visit the world’s largest sea lion colony from the fishing village of Cabo Polonio
- Immerse yourself in the luxury of Bahia Vik on the Atlantic coast
- Cycle through the streets of Montevideo
Want to find out more about Uruguay? Then read our blog ‘Uruguay in 5 tips’.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Amsterdam – Buenos Aires
Your private trip of Uruguay begins today. This evening in Amsterdam, you will board your intercontinental flight to Buenos Aires. You will arrive there the following day.
Day 2 | Buenos Aires
You’ll arrive in Buenos Aires today. On arrival, you’ll be welcomed by one of our local staff and taken to your hotel. Buenos Aires is a stunning metropolis, also known as ‘the Paris of the South’. This is due to its countless shops and boutiques, its architecture, cultural life, restaurants and its cosmopolitan population, predominantly of Italian, Spanish, French, German, English, Eastern European, Arab and Asian descent. The city is one of the most European in South America and indeed the entire southern hemisphere, and today you’ll have the opportunity to get to know it better.
Accommodation: Palo Santo Hotel | bed and breakfast
Day 3 | Buenos Aires
Today, you’ll be taken on a special trip of some of the main attractions in the fascinating Argentine capital. You’ll set off by bike with your guide to explore the Recoleta and Palermo neighbourhoods. In the stylish Recoleta neighbourhood, you’ll find the famous Cementerio de Recoleta cemetery, where Evita Perón’s grave is located, amongst others. In the Palermo district, you’ll find the Bosques de Palermo, a green oasis in the city covering some 400 hectares, where people of all ages come to enjoy themselves (particularly at the weekend). The trendy Palermo district is also known as Palermo Soho, named after the famous Soho district in New York, USA. Here you’ll find a selection of charming boutique hotels in historic, characterful buildings, often featuring a modern interior combined with classic elements.
Accommodation: Palo Santo Hotel | bed and breakfast
Day 4 | Buenos Aires – Colonia del Sacramento
After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel and taken to the port of Buenos Aires, where you will board your ferry to Colonia. Upon arrival, you will be met by a local representative and taken to your hotel in the town of Colonia. Your rental car for the coming days will be delivered to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish. Colonia del Sacramento, or Colonia for short, is a melting pot of typical 17th-century Portuguese and Spanish low-rise architecture. Stroll through the narrow streets and feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. You’ll be staying at the Charco Hotel, which has just seven rooms, all furnished in colonial style.
Overnight stay: Charco Hotel | bed and breakfast
Day 5 | Colonia del Sacramento
You’ll start the day with a mate tasting. For many Uruguayans, ‘mate’ is more than just a drink. For many, it is a ritual that has been practised for years and passed down from generation to generation. Together with your guide, you’ll sample the mate alongside some typical local pastries. Of course, you’ll also learn how to prepare a mate. Afterwards, you’ll explore the town of Colonia del Sacramento, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded by the Portuguese and contested for many years by the crowns of both Spain and Portugal, Colonia’s magical history remains intact to this day. Stroll along the charming cobbled streets led by your local guide and discover the various sights, such as the old city gate, the historic Calle de los Suspiros, the beautiful squares and the local church, Iglesia Matriz. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish.
Overnight stay: Charco Hotel | bed and breakfast
Day 6 | Colonia del Sacramento – Mariscala
(approx. 350 km | 4.5 hours’ drive)
After breakfast, you’ll get into your rental car and continue your journey to Mariscala. You’ll follow a route through the Uruguayan countryside. Enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside along the way. You can stop wherever you like. It is also possible to take a route even further inland, passing through the town of Durazno, which means ‘peach’ in Spanish. As the name suggests, peaches are grown in abundance in this region. Your accommodation is situated in a hilly area just a few minutes’ drive from the town of Mariscala. The charming and comfortable Posada El Balcón del Abra has just 8 rooms. Here you can go on lovely walks or horse rides, allowing you to experience the true rural atmosphere of Uruguay.
Accommodation: Posada El Balcón del Abra | full board
Day 7 | Mariscala
Today you’ll have time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Mariscala. You can go for lovely walks on foot or on horseback, experiencing the true rural atmosphere of Uruguay. Of course, you’re also free to explore the area at your own pace in your rental car.
Accommodation: Posada El Balcón del Abra | full board
Day 8 | Mariscala – La Pedrera
(approx. 150 km | 2.5-hour drive)
Today you’ll drive to La Pedrera, your next destination on this trip of Uruguay. You’ll be staying in lovely accommodation near the beach for the next few nights. La Pedrera is a small coastal village and the perfect place to relax. From the rocky cliffs, you’ll have a stunning view of the ocean, with a long stretch of beach on either side of the cliff.
Overnight stay: Hotel Brisas de la Pedrera Boutique | bed and breakfast
Day 9 | La Pedrera
In the morning, you’ll drive your rental car towards the entrance to Cabo Polonio. Your guide will be waiting for you here to take you to this special little village. Cabo Polonio is a charming fishing village that can only be reached on foot, on horseback or by special four-wheel-drive vehicle. Here, in Uruguay’s largest biosphere reserve, a few families still live without electricity. With endless white ocean beaches, the world’s largest colony of sea lions, colourful little houses and the lighthouse as a landmark, this is a unique place to visit. Your guide will take you on a walk to the impressive sand dunes, from where you’ll have a fantastic view of the ocean. You can enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the small restaurants. Visit the lighthouse keepers’ house, say hello to the sea lions and take a 4x4 ride through the dunes, which will bring you back to the entrance to the village. From here, you’ll drive back to your hotel at your own pace.
Overnight stay: Hotel Brisas de la Pedrera Boutique | bed and breakfast
Day 10 | La Pedrera – José Ignacio
(approx. 120 km | 2-hour drive)
Today you’ll drive to José Ignacio on the coast of Uruguay. José Ignacio owes its name to the settler of the same name who lived there during the Spanish conquest. In José Ignacio, you’ll find what’s known as ‘barefoot luxury’, far from the city. In this region, enjoyment is written in capital letters! The locals in José Ignacio sleep late, enjoy themselves with family and friends on the beach and are very friendly. You’ll be staying at the beautiful Bahia Vik accommodation, set in an unspoilt dune area just outside the village. Here you can take lovely walks along the beach and enjoy the view of the ocean. The rooms feature an open-plan design and are arranged so that you can enjoy the views of the beach and the ocean at all times.
Accommodation: Bahia Vik | bed and breakfast
Day 11 | José Ignacio
This day is free to spend as you wish. A great opportunity to relax and enjoy your surroundings. There are endless activities on offer here: from surfing, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, tennis, golf, horse riding, cycling, kitesurfing, kayaking, canoeing or visiting the observatory, to simply lounging with a book by one of the swimming pools or on the beach.
Accommodation: Bahia Vik | bed and breakfast
Day 12 | José Ignacio – Montevideo
(approx. 175 km | 3-hour drive)
From José Ignacio, you’ll drive to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. You’ll return your rental car at the hotel and have the rest of the day to spend as you wish. Montevideo has a similar atmosphere to Buenos Aires, but the city is smaller and therefore easier to navigate. The city has a historic centre and a promenade where you can cycle along the waterfront. You’ll be staying at the Alma Historica hotel. The hotel is housed in a restored palace dating from 1900. With just 15 rooms, the hotel offers you an exclusive experience.
Overnight stay: Alma Historica | bed and breakfast
Day 13 | Montevideo
After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel for a city trip. Led by a guide, you will learn about the history of the city and the country. You will visit various buildings and your guide will provide you with the necessary background information. From here, you’ll be taken to the lively harbour market, home to a variety of restaurants. This harbour market is all about quality Asado meat and red wine. If you wish, you can visit some of the city’s museums. After the trip, you’ll be taken back to your hotel.
Overnight stay: Alma Historica | bed and breakfast
Day 14 | Montevideo – Amsterdam
In the afternoon, you will be collected from your hotel and taken to Montevideo Airport, where you will board your intercontinental overnight flight to Amsterdam.
Day 15 | Amsterdam
You will arrive at Schiphol today.
Travel price
From €5,720 per person
- Based on 2 people travelling together
- Subject to the time of booking, accommodation availability and the travel period
Included:
- 12 nights’ accommodation, meals as stated
- 8 days’ car hire (Cat. F. Hyundai HB20 or similar alternative) including basic insurance, starting from Colonia and dropping off in Montevideo
- all transfers and excursions as listed
- city tax in Buenos Aires, payable locally during check-out, approx USD $1.50 per person per night
- Public levy Calamity Fund travel; €2.50 per booking
- SGR contribution of €5 per person per booking
- 24/7 our backup; locally and in the Netherlands
- comprehensive travel pack with small gift
Not included:
- International flights, we will book them for you if required
- Early check-in/late check-out, based on availability sometimes given by hotel. If you want to make sure you have this, please enquire with us about the extra cost.
- travel and cancellation insurance
Request a travel proposal
Would you also like to go on this personalised trip of Uruguay? We can, of course, organise the above trip for you, but we’d also be happy to put together an itinerary based on your preferences and ideas. Please feel free to get in touch. Call +31 73 610 62 04, send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl or request a bespoke quote below. We’d be happy to help.
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